Have you ever dreamed of traveling to Antarctica? Now you can make it a reality with this full-day trip from Punta Arenas. We’ll land on King George Island and visit Bellingshausen Base, Fildes Bay, and the penguin colonies of Ardley Island.
Trip Details
Are you ready to take one of the most unforgettable trips of your life? If you're thinking of going to Antarctica but want to avoid the long hours of sailing through the Drake Passage, this is the perfect option! We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Punta Arenas and head to the airport to board a flight to Antarctica, which takes between 1.5 and 2 hours.
We’ll land on King George Island, the largest island in the South Shetland Archipelago, in the southern part of Antarctica. Did you know it’s the island with the highest concentration of bases on the continent? King George Island is a strategic point, serving as a major hub for scientific research and international collaboration. One of the most prominent bases is Russia’s base, which operates year-round. Known in Argentina as Isla 25 de Mayo and in Russia as Waterloo Island, it’s the perfect place to spend a day surrounded by Antarctica’s glaciers, mountains, and icebergs.
Once there, we’ll visit Villa Las Estrellas, a small Chilean settlement located at the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base. Then we’ll head to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church at the well-known Bellingshausen Base. We’ll learn about the long-standing research carried out in this area by the Russian government since 1968. To make the most of the day, we won’t stop for a formal lunch, instead, we’ll recharge during the transfers with snacks you can bring along.
We’ll continue this incredible Antarctica tour with a visit to Fildes Bay, where we’ll board a zodiac-type boat to reach Ardley Island. There, we’ll observe gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie penguin colonies. Their quirky movements will absolutely charm you!
After returning to the island by boat and spending around five hours exploring this Antarctic region, we’ll head back to the King George Island airport to catch our flight back to Punta Arenas. Snacks and drinks will be served during the flights.
Late in the day, we’ll take you back to your hotel and conclude this unforgettable experience among glaciers.
Accommodation Details
This tour includes four nights of accommodation at a 3 or 4-star hotel in Punta Arenas. These nights take place during the four days prior to flying to King George Island, since the flight depends on weather conditions.
However, if—for example—the flight can take place on the second day of your stay in Punta Arenas, we will depart on that day instead of waiting until the last night.
When you return to Punta Arenas after completing the day trip, that night of accommodation will no longer be available. However, you may leave your luggage at the hotel until our return.
Important Info
- Please note that in the case of adverse weather conditions, the day trip may be rescheduled. Therefore, if you book the activity for a Tuesday, you must be available until Saturday to join the tour. If the date changes, we’ll offer three alternative options within the reserved days. If none of them work for you, no refund will be issued.
- If the day trip cannot be carried out on any of the four reserved days due to weather conditions, you will receive an 80% refund of the tour price.
- Visits to the bases on King George Island will be done on foot or by vehicle depending on the weather.
- You may bring a small backpack of up to 10 kilos (22 lbs) per person.
- It’s essential to bring your passport or ID to participate in the tour.
- We recommend bringing clothing suitable for extreme conditions, such as ski clothing, gloves, a hat, scarves, warm socks, and waterproof boots.
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The included insurance covers passengers while they are inside the airplane or using the aircraft stairs. Therefore, it is important to have additional insurance that covers any civil liability or injuries that may occur while outside the aircraft. You must also have rescue insurance that covers a possible air evacuation from Antarctica.
Children Under 12
This day trip is not recommended for children under 12 due to the demanding conditions and low temperatures.
